Improvement in book-racks



A. R. SHERMAN.

Book-Rack.

PatentedApr il 30, I878.

INVENTOI i WITNESSES -a ATTORNEYS.

MPETERS, FHOTOVLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. 01c.

UNIT n-STATEs PATENT OFFIoE.

ALBERT n. SHERMAN, on NATIOK, RHODE ISLAND.

lM PROVEM ENT IN BOOK-RACKS.

Specification forming of Letters Patent No. 203,080, dated April 8;application filed March 16, 1878.

To all whom it mag concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT R. SHERMAN,

' of Natick, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Book-Racks, of which thefollowing is a specification: I

Figure l is a front view of myimproved book-rack. Fig. 2 is a side viewof the same, partly in section to show the construction. Fig. 3 is adetail top view of one end of the bottom rail and its bracket. Fig. 4 isa detail cross-section of the back cushion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved book-rack forchurch-pews, which shall be so constructed as to hold the books againstthe back of the pew, and at the same time hold them shut, which willalso hold small books in place, and which shall be simple inconstruction and convenient in use.

A represents the shelf upon which the books stand, and to the upper sideof which is attached a cushion, B, of felt covered withvelvet, plush, orother suitable material, to prevent noise when the books are placed inthe rack, and to prevent the edges of the books from being worn. Theends of the shelf A are attached to two brackets, O, the bases of which.

fit and slide upon the lower "parts of the baseplates D, to which theyare secured by the clamping screws E. The screws E pass through slots inthe lower parts of the plates D, so that, by loosening the said screwsE, the shelf A may be lowered or raised, according as longer or shorterbooks are to be used in the rack. Upon the upper side of the brackets Oare formed sockets F, to receive the ends of the rod Gr, the end partsof which are bent inward at right angles, and are secured adjustably inthe said sockets F by the set-screws H. The rod G is covered with thematerial with which the rack is upholstered,- is designed to adapt therack to hold small books, and

may be adjusted closer to or farther from the back of the pew, accordingto the size of the said small books. The rod G is secured in the socketsF by set-screws H, passing in through the sides of the said sockets andpressing against the said rod. Upon the upper part of the base-plates Dare formed sockets I, in which are placed pins J, which are secured inplace by the spiral springs K, the outer ends of which rest against ashoulder or flange formed upon the inner surface of the sockets I, andtheir inner ends rest against the heads of screws, screwed into theinner ends of the said pins J. The outer ends of the pins J have eyesformed in them to receive and hold the ends of the rod L, which eyes maybe made in the form of hands, as shown in the drawings, or of any otherornamental shape. The rod L is designed to be covered with the samematerial as is used in upholstering the rest of the rack,

By this construction the rod L has a reciprocating movement, and willadapt itself automatically to the size of the books.

The eyes of the holders or pins J have shoulders formed upon their lowersides to strike against the rubber heads of the stop-pins M, which areplaced in sockets N, formed upon the lower sides of the sockets I, andwhich are secured adjustably in the said sockets N by set-screws O,passing in through the sides of the said sockets N.

The stops M are designed to prevent noise when the books are removed andthe rod L moves inward, and also to limit the inward movement of thesaid rod L, so that space may be left between it and the pew-back toenable the books to be readily inserted without its being necessary todraw out the said rod L with one hand while inserting a book with theother hand.

Against the back of the pew is placed a cushion, Q R, the ends of whichare inserted beneath, and are held by, the upper parts of thebase-plates D. The back of the cushion is a metallic plate, P, the sideedges of which are bent over forward, and are scalloped or otherwiseornamented; and in the grooves thus formed are inserted the edges of arubber plate, Q, and a cover, R, of the material used for upholsteringthe racks. The strips Q R are made wider than the space between theturned-over edges of the plate I, so that the said strips Q B may beconvexed or arched, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus adapted to serve as acushion. The turned-over edges of the plate P are then closed down uponthe edges of the strips Q It, so as to hold them securely.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The book-rack consisting, essentially, of thereciprocating rod L, the pins J, the sockets I, and the plates D,constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the reciprocating rod L, the holders J, and thespiral springs K with the sockets Iformed upon the base-plates D ofabook-rack, substantially as herein shown and described. V

3. The combination of the adjustable stops M with the movableholding-rod of a bookrack, substantially as herein shown and described.

ALBERT SHERMAN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS H. EATON, AL0NZ0 L. JENKs.

